do we really choose the way we live or is it all pre determined by different factors?

Question

my speech, the clothes i wear, what i study, what i read, my friends, the career i choose, the country i live in, the rules i abide by, morality, what i eat, even what i think.....aren't all these factors determined by society, religion, community, nation, laws..etc.

Answer 1

I think about this sometimes.

I think on one level, most things are predetermined, or at least we are heavily influenced by the factors you mentioned.

I think it's impossible to not be shaped by our society, religions, etc. Everyone is affected by it ....even those who say they aren't....we can choose the way we live but it will be based on all our "conditioning's" of what we grew up with and was/is exposed to. I think that's totally true on one level.

The experiences and the factors that make up plain jane is vastly different from average joe's experience's, but yet....we seem to be very like-minded.....it makes me wonder....everyone is shaped by different factors but is there something deeper and bigger than all those "pre-determined" factors that we were born into?


On a deeper level, regardless of all the above outside factors----I believe that ultimately we have the freedom to be ourselves---our real selves---that self which isn't influenced by anything outside of us. This treasure of who we really are that resides inside us. The heart gets covered up and shut out, but it can be uncovered and heard again.

Sometimes stumbling into awareness and learning n waking up....regardless of any environment......we choose to be ourselves....

Answer 2

It is all predetermined by different factors. We are born into certain cultures, nations, communities, societies etc.. Once you reach an age where you have the ability to make decisions on your own then you can change certain things. I do think however that it is easier to go along with what you've been taught b/c most people live like that and it's usually how we are raised...to fit in and belong. There are certain things that would be very difficult to change...like your speech for example. Unless you decided to create your own language. Or your clothing. That will almost always be somewhat predetermined by someone else, imparticularly the fashion industry. It would take a lot of effort to be completely in control of what you wear...designing, creating and manufacturing your own clothing.

Usually we just end up going with the rest of the crowd because it's natural, and easy. We also have to do certain things and live a certain way because it's the law of the society we live in. If we don't live and abide by rules and laws then sometimes we have to face reprocussions. So you can choose how you live but ultimately there will always be someone else to tell you what you can and can not do in your life.

Answer 3

hi
I really think there is something that place us in certain places, I mean, there must be some reason for which we were born and I think it is very difficult to find out what is our mission in the world,but it is also true that we always have different options to choose for most of the things we do so it is up to us, for example; our career, our friends, our clothes, our couple, etc.
On the other hand, there are some things that we didn't decide, for example our sex, the family where we were born, the country, etc.
This question is really difficult, but my answer is that we were born for some reason for sure, and I am still looking for that reason, so maybe destiny exists.

Answer 4

both
but for some things you can choose whether to be affected by it ( eg. what you wear, religion, country etc, ) although you may do so subconsciously...
some things that are "pre-determined" would be wealth although that you can change or your physical being and mental capacity.
we are limited yet not limited..
and there's always fate / luck to consider. the big "what if" of life

Answer 5

When we are too young to know better, the way we react to life is predetermined by our cultural background. As we grow older and learn more about the world, however, we come to understand this, and so can choose to change it through education and experience. So to answer your question, both.

Answer 6

The only things you have no control over are the time and place of your birth, your parentage, and the time of your death. The last one is debatable. The rest is controlled by your actions. You do whatever you choose to do and all the events of your life are controlled by the decisions you make.

Answer 7

We always choose, from a list of "predetermined destiny's". The list changes with each choice. New paths are created and other paths are erased, forever. Always a choice, always a change.

Answer 8

Certain factors do have a hand in your "fate," but for the most part, we all make it up as we go along.

Answer 9

You determine your own fate

Answer 10

well, you can *choose* to think that, then.

*boom tish*